Nairobi MCAs want President Kenyatta to mediate Sonko-Igathe conflict

January 18, 2018 12:26 pm

Shares

Speaking to Capital FM News, Woodley Ward MCA Mwangi Njehia said what happens in Nairobi will have a huge impact on his legacy and he should move with speed to resolve the matter/file

By SIMON NDONGA, NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 – Two members of the Nairobi County Assembly now want President Uhuru Kenyatta to be actively involved in the mediation of the conflict between Governor Mike Sonko and his deputy Polycarp Igathe.

Speaking to Capital FM News, Woodley Ward MCA Mwangi Njehia said what happens in Nairobi will have a huge impact on his legacy and he should move with speed to resolve the matter.

He however urged both Sonko and Igathe to put their differences aside and focus on effective service delivery for the residents of Nairobi.

“These are minor differences which can be resolved. And also as Jubilee Party, we know that our faithful President Uhuru Kenyatta will act on the same to reconcile them. To fulfil his dream of a legacy, for example Kibaki left the Thika Superhighway, what will President Uhuru leave? He wants to leave a legacy in Nairobi,” he said. “If he wants to fulfil his agenda for Nairobi, he must reconcile these two guys no matter what.”

Ngara Ward representative Chege Mwaura on the other hand says consultations seeking to reconcile the two but no matter the outcome, focus should be on service delivery within the county.

“We have assured the Governor that we are with him not that we are taking sides but because of the interests of the county. We have consulted and we are of the opinion that he continues to consult further,” he said.

“He is back in Nairobi and he is also going to meet some of the leadership of the Party and other key stakeholders when it comes to governance of the City. Whatever direction, whether there is reconciliation or they fail to do that, the most important thing is the business of the County,” he stated.

Igathe resigned as Nairobi Deputy Governor, citing frustrations because “I failed to earn the Governor’s trust”, in what is blamed on strained working relationship with Governor Mike Sonko.

He announced his resignation on his Twitter account; “Dear Nairobians, it is with a heavy heart that I resign my seat as elected Deputy Governor of Nairobi City County effective 1pm on 31st Jan 2018. I regret I have failed to earn the trust of the Governor to enable me to drive Admin & Management of the county.”

Surprisingly, he resigned hours after a television interview where he appeared to defend their performance so far.

Igathe joined politics from the private sector, having resigned as a CEO at Vivo Energy, with the intent to restore East Africa’s largest city to its position as an Economic Powerhouse.

In an interview with Capital FM News before the elections, Igathe said politics was too important to be left to politicians.